DR04RX8

I took my cat off, and the o2 sensor that's in front of the cat looks just like my plugs did, is that bad? And i haven't checked the one in the cat.

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

Not really. It is a bolt on part. Just make sure your gaskets are still good and be gentle with the rear O2 sensor. Found this thread that could help a tiny bit:https://www.rx8club.com/aftermarket-...low-cat-70365/

DR04RX8

Well everything is good, bad thing is that the studs were stripped somehow. I didn't pay attention to then. But on the removal they were a bitch, i used wd40 cuz i thought it was die to rust but at the end of removal they were bad. Now i have to wait till Wednesday to get the studs with nuts from dealer. I looked in auto zone but they didn't have anything the same as the studs or anything to hold the heat. Just my luck with this car lol

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

O2 sensors are exposed in lots of heat, fumes, gas so they look ugly Never seen a front O2 sensor but the rear one that I had to change 3 years ago looked rough. If it does not work you should get a CEL, so since this is not the case I would say that it is ok.

DR04RX8

Haha well it's the one that's attached to the headers, between rotary and cat. But if it's good then idc lol. But i still need to check the silenoi for the vacuum.

DR04RX8

Lol, if you get parts from the dealers. And they don't get the parts on time. Call, complain, get mad, somewhat cuss them out. My studs magically arrived at 8 in the morning today when they should had arrived 2 days ago.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

are you talking about the three studs on the cat? if so just knock them out and replace with nuts and bolts from the hardware store. just be careful you dont damage the cat

DR04RX8

Yea my hardware stripe its retreated and small. They don't carry ****. But anyways, cat is back on. And after 17 miles. It does the same thing as mine. And it stinks like ***! And smokes too. Is it worse?

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

Did you use any wd40 to fit the cat back on? Do you still have the p0301 code? Looks like you have to dig deeper to find the issue.

DR04RX8

Yea i sprayed wd40 on the new studs and nuts so it wouldn't be a hard to take off. And it did get on the cat. And the only code i have now is p2259. And i don't lose power at 6k anymore, its a little higher at the rpm.

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

Here is then where the smell comes from. It will smell bad for a bit but it should get normal soon. I remember when mazda changed mine the smell for the first few days was pretty horrible. It seems like you took care of the misfires and the car is a bit happier! Can you redline?

As far as the p2259 as I told you earlier do not worry. There are different things you can do including to just ignore it; disconnect the air pump if you want; or replacing the solenoid. I ended up replacing the solenoid two years after this code appeared.

DR04RX8

Yea misfires are gone for now lol. And yea i can red line so far. It's smoother, i feel a kick to it when i shift. I've been driving it soft. But when i hit it. It responses. I'll see if the problem still occurs over time. And thank you so much bro! You saved me tons of money! And are you located in the US?

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

You are welcome man! Glad I was able to help you out. Yes I am in the US. Left my home country (Greece) nine years ago.

Another thing you might want to do (if you never have done) is to decarbon the engine (seafoam or zoom zoom cleaner). This could clean a bit of the carbon build up (mazda recommends decarbon at 60k miles). There is a bit a debate whether this process helps or not, so do some reading and decide for yourself.

DR04RX8

Well i used seafoam a while back ago, like 10k+ maybe. Or less. And the engine felt lighter and acceleration was better. I used the two little nipples on the side of the rotary. I saw it on you tube :P lol but that's the only time I've used seafoam, never used any other cleaner. When would you recommend to use it again? If it's good enough.

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

Since you did it once, I would not do it again...I was thinking to decarbon again once I reach 100k miles (currently at 82k miles still pulling strong) but after reading some more on it I doubt I will.

DR04RX8

Does it damage the rotary? I'm sitting on almost 73k. And is it just seafoam? Or just decarbing all together?

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

There is a danger (if you seafoam = decarbon often) to dry up your seals. Some people who rebuild rotaries report that the carbon build up will not go away by simply using seafoam or other similar kind of products. Using seafoam will take away some carbon but the engine will not be carbon free. People who have opened high mileage rotary engines report that you got to put more effort than just seafoaming to get rid of the carbon. Like I told you I do not know whether it makes a big difference, a small difference, or any difference at all. I did once and I doubt I will do it again.

DR04RX8

So if we seafoam, it has to be done often? But it also dries up the seals which can wear them down? And yet, it may help a little or not at all? Lol this **** is complicated

DR04RX8

I just checked the air solenoid. And the middle plug wire was ripped off. Only the middle one. And where does the harness lead too?

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

What do you mean? The wire plug needs to be connected with the solenoid. Is the plug off the solenoid?

DR04RX8

No one of the wires, the actual wire was off the plug. The plug was connected, but the wire was off the plug. I opened up the little metal thing so i can re install the wire back. The CEL was still on. is the harness bad now? Do i have to replace it?

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

Ok got you. Before you purchase a new one there are a couple of things you should do to check whether the harness is bad or the solenoid. The easy thing is to clean the connections (use some connection/wire cleaner spray). Sometimes connections get dirty back there.

Here is DYI thread to test the solenoid: https://www.rx8club.com/do-yourself-...lenoid-190364/

If solenoid works you know you have bad harness. Hopefully not both of them are bad.

DR04RX8

You're like a master at this ****! lol hopefully only the solenoid is bad, but knowing my luck with.this car both of them are bad lol. But I'll try to clean it soon, I'm afraid of ripping something off :P

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

Your luck is getting better I am sending you my positive thoughts So far you have solved problems so I believe in you

DR04RX8

Lol bro hug! :D lol, yea without you and all the guys who helped this car wouldn't be getting better. Haha i love this club :D and do i just but wire cleaner